Spring unit lacing machine



V. J. BERGSTROM SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE Nov. 16, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1948 Nov. 16, 1954 Filed March 50, 1948 V. J. BERGSTROM SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 16, 1954 v. J, BERGSTROM SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE Filed Mafch so, 1948 9 sheets-snet 3 ll! Ill.

1954 v. J. BERGSTROM SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 30, 1948 Filed March 30, 1948 Nov. 16, 1954 v. J. BERGSTROM 2,694,418

SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 16, 1954 v. J. BERGSTROM 2,694,413

SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE Filed March 30, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 16, 1954 v. J. BERGSTROM SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Shet 7 Filed March 30, 1948 Npv. 16, 1954 v. J. BERGSTROM 2,694,418

SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE Filed March 30, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet s Nov. 16, 1954 v. J. BERGSTROM 2,694,418

SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE Filed March 50, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 United States Patent Ofiice 2,694,418 Patented Nov. 16, 1954 SPRING UNIT LACING MACHINE Victor J. Bergstrom, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Johnson Spring Cushion Company Application March 30, 1948, Serial No. 17,867

7 Claims. (Cl. 140-92.7)

small number of manual operations for affording maximum production, wherein the joints between the coil springs and the helices are tightly made to prevent squeaking and pinging of the completed spring unit, and wherein the rectangularity of the assembled spring unit is assured.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the spring unit lacing machine and the cooperative relationship between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the spring unit lacing machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof looking I from the right in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 3;

Figure 7 is a partial view of a spring unit illustrating round coil springs laced together with wire helices;

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the wire helix forming die;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view thereof looking from the right in Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the linelO-IO of Fig. 8;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a part of the wire helix forming die;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken substanitally along the line 1212 of Fig. 1 illustrating the clutch for the lifting mechanism;

Figure 13 is an enlarged plan view of the clamping jaws of the clamping jaw assemblies utilized for clamping round coil springs for lacing purposes;

Figure 14 is an end elevational view looking from the right of Fig. 13;

Figure 15 is a plan view of the clamping jaws of the clamping jaw assemblies utilized for clamping offset coils for lacing purposes;

Figure 16 is an end elevational view looking from the right ofFig. 15;

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1717 of Fig. 3;

Figure 18 is a sectional view through the clamping jaws showing the clamping jaws closed;

Figure 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18, but showing the clamping jaws open;

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the clamping jaws showing them open;

Figure 21 is a perspective view of the cutter of the upper frame utilized for cutting the wire helix;

Figure 22 is a view of the cutter for the lower frame for cutting the wire helix, and

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a switch, one of which is mounted on the upper frame and another on the lower frame.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the spring unit lacing mechanism is generally designated at 10 and includes a supporting standard 11 and an elongated lower frame 12 and an elongated upper frame 13 which is adapted to be reciprocated toward and away from the lower frame. The lower frame carries a plurality of upwardly facing clamping jaw assemblies 14 which are adapted to be longitudinally adjustably positioned along the lower frame. In a like manner the elongated upper frame 13 carries a plurality of downwardly facing clamping jaw assemblies 15 which are likewise adapted to be longitudinally positioned along the upper frame.

The lower frame carries at one end a wire helix forming and advancing mechanism 16 and likewise at the end of the upper frame 13 there is, also, carried a similar wire helix forming and advancing mechanism 17. These mechanisms 16 and 17 operate to form and advance helices along the lower and upper frames for the purposes of lacing together coil springs clamped in position by the clamping jaw assemblies of the lower and upper frames.

A source of power in the form of an electrical motor 18 is supported on the supporting standard 11 and it operates through a clutch 19 for raising and lowering the upper frame 13. This same electric motor 18, also, operates the wire helix forming and advancing mechanism 16 and 17 through clutches contained therein.

A manually operated device in the form of a foot pedal 20 is carried by the supporting standard 11 and operates when partially depressed to close partially the clamping jaw assemblies of both lower and upper frames, and also, operates when completely depressed to close completely the clamping jaw assemblies and to cause operation of both wire helix forming and advancing mechanisms l6and 17.

A solenoid 21 and a control switch 22, both associated only with the lower frame, operates to stop the wire helix forming and advancing mechanism 16 and to open the jaw assemblies 14 when the wire helix has completed its travel in lacing together the lower parts of the coil springs. Similarilv, a solenoid 23 c ntrolled by a control switch 24, both associated only with the upper frame, operates to stop the wire helix forming and advancing mechanism 17 and open the clamping jaw assemblies 15 when the wire helix has compelted its travel in lacing together the upper parts of the coil springs.

In the operation of the machine, the clutch 19 is manipulated to lower the upper frame. The foot pedal 20 is partially depressed to close partially the clamping jaw assemblies 14 and 15. Two rows of coil springs are then inserted under compression in the clamping jaw assemblies. The foot pedal 20 is then completely depressed whereupon the clamping jaw assemblies close completely to hold firmly the coil springs and the wire helix forming and advancing mechanisms 16 and 17 automatically operate to form and advance helices through the clamping jaw assemblies for lacing together the coil springs clamped therein. When the wire helix of either the upper or lower frame completes its travel in lacing the springs together its associated helix forming and advancing mechanism is stopped and the associated clamping jaw assemblies opened. The foot pedal 20 automatically raises after the clamping jaws are closed and the helix forming and advancing mechanisms are operated. The clutch 19 is then manipulated to raise the upper frame 13 and at the same time cut both helices. The laced rows of coil springs are then pushed back the distance of one row. The clutch 19 is then again manipulated to lower the upper frame 13 and the foot pedal 20 is then partially depressed so that the machine is conditioned for the reception of another row of coil springs to be laced to the previous row. The foregoing sequences of operation are repeated until the desired size spring unit is obtained.

The supporting frame 11 carries a starting box which is connected by electrical conduits 26 to the electric motor 18, the solenoids 21 and 23 and the switches 22 and 24. In this way electrical energy under the control of the starting box is supplied to the electric motor 18 and the solenoids 21 and 23, and the solenoids 21 and 23 are controlled by the switches 22 and 24.

Still referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the supporting standard 11 includes end frames and 31 and bracing 32. An auxiliary frame 33 carried by the supporting standard 11 supports the electric motor 18. The electric motor 18 drives a pinion 34 meshing with a gear 35 keyed to a shaft 36. The shaft 36 carries a sprocket 37 which is connected by a chain 38 to a sprocket wheel 39 loosely mounted on a shaft 40 which extends the length of the machine and which is journaled in the end frames 30 and 31. The clutch 19 connects and disconnects the sprocket wheel 39 with the shaft 40 to provide rotation of the shaft 40 through 180 each time that the clutch is manipulated. The left end of the shaft 40 carries an eccentric or cam 41 and the right end also carries a corresponding eccentric or cam 42, the purposes of which are to raise and lower the upper frame. jacent the cam 42, the shaft 40 carries a collar 43 provided with a cam surface 42 for operating the cutter of the lower frame.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 12,

the clutch 19 includes a stationary member 47 secured to a auxiliary frame 46 carried by the supporting standard 11. The auxiliary frame 46 also operates to assist in rotatably supporting the shaft 40. A cylinder 48 provided with a peripherial groove longitudinally carries a pin 49 which when extended is adapted to be engaged by one or the other of the pins 50 carried by and rotating with the sprocket wheel 39. A pair of fingers 51 and 53 pivoted at 52 and 54 respectively ride in the peripheral groove in the rotatable member 48 for the purpose of controlling the position of the pin 49. The finger 51 is provided with an extension 55 connected by a spring 56 to a pin 57 for urging the finger inwardly. Likewise the finger 53 is urged inwardly by a spring 59 connected between pins 58 and 60. The fingers 51 and 53 are provided with extensions 61 and 62 to be engaged by a pivoted operating member 63 pivoted at 64 and provided with a handle 66. When the handle 66 is in the neutral position as indicated in Fig. 12, the pin 49 is retracted and the rotatable member 48 is stationary. When the handle 66 is depressed, the finger 51 is released to extend the pin 49 so that it is engaged by one of the moving pins 50. The pin 49 and hence the rotatable member 48 is thereupon rotated through 180 where the pin 49 is retracted by the finger 53 so that rotation of the rotatable member 48 is stopped after 180 of rotation. If now the handle 66 is raised, the finger 53 is retracted to permit the pin 49 to protrude and be engaged by one or the other of the pins 50. The rotatable member 48 is then rotated through another 180 where the finger 51 engages the pin 49 to retract the same and stop further rotation. In this way the shaft 40 is rotated through 180 upon lowering and raising of the handle 66. The rotatable member 48 is so arranged with respect to the cam 41 and 42 carried by the shaft 40 that upon raising the handle 66 the upper frame 13 is raised and upon lowering the handle 66 the upper frame is lowered.

The elongated lower frame 12 includes end pieces 70 and 71 carrying a pair of shafts 72 and 73 therebetween. The end pieces 70 and 71 are secured to the supporting standard 11 and the shaft 72 is rigidly secured in the end pieces. The shaft 73 is permitted to rotate in the end pieces and is journaled for rotation therein. In a like manner the upper frame 13 includes end pieces 74 and 75 with shafts 76 and 77 extending therebetween. The shaft 76 is rigidly secured in the end pieces and the shaft 77 is journaled for rotation therein.

The end piece 74 of the upper frame slidably receives two depending shafts 78 and 79 which extend through holes 80 and 81 in the end piece 70 of the lower frame 12. A pair of screws 68, screw threadedly received in the end piece 74, abut the ends of the shafts 78 and 79 so that by adjustment of the screws the position of the end piece 74 may be adjusted with respect to the shafts." The shafts 78 and 79 terminate in a yolk 82 provided with a cam follower in the form of a roller 83 engaging the eccentric or cam 41. Compression springs 84 and 85 surround the shafts 78 and 79 and extend between the end pieces 70 and 74, the springs 84 and 85 therefore carrying much of the weight of the upper frame. In a like manner the end piece 75 of the upper frame carries depending shafts 86 and 87 extending outwardly through holes 88 and 89 in the end piece 71 of the lower frame and terminating in a yolk 90 carrying a cam follower in the form of a roller engaging the cam or eccentric 42. The shafts 86 and 87 are provided with compression springs 91 and 92 extending between the end pieces 71 and 75 which operate to support a portion of the weight of the upper frame 13.

When the shaft 40 is rotated to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4, the cams 41 and 42 hold the upper frame elevated and when the shaft 40 is rotated through 180 to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 4, cams 41 and 42, yolks 82 and 90 and the vertical shafts form a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the upper frame 13, which raising and lowering is controlled by the clutch 19. The screws 68 at both ends of the upper frame provide means for adjusting the upper frame with respect to the lower frame to accommodate coil springs of different height.

The shaft 36 which drives the sprocket 37, also, carries a beveled gear 95 meshing with a beveled gear 96 secured to a vertical shaft 97 for driving the wire helix forming and advancing mechanisms 16 and 17.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 6, the wire helix forming and advancing mechanism 16 for the lower frame includes a housing 98 provided with a pair of vertical bores 99 and 100. A hearing 101 is fitted in the upper part of the bore 99 and rotatably journals a sleeve 102 which is secured by screws 103 to a feed roll 104 having a pair of peripheral feeding grooves 105. The sleeve 102 is secured by pins 106 to a sleeve 107 having a flange 121 and a pair of vertical slots 108 for receiving a pair of dogs 109. The dogs 109 are secured in holes 110 in the flange 111 of a sleeve 112. A rim 113 is secured to the upper end of the sleeve 112 by set screws 114 to provide a race between the rim 113 and the flange 1.11 for receiving a rim 115 carrying a pair of pins 116 extending outwardly into the bifurcated ends 117 of a pair of levers 118 which are secured by pins 119 to a shaft 120. The flange 121 of the sleeve 107 is secured by screws 122 to a gear 123. Located within the sleeve 107 is a collar 124 secured by a pin 125 to the shaft 97 and the collar 124 is provided with a pair of cars 126 adapted to engage the dogs 109.

The gear 123 meshes with a gear 128 mounted on a shaft 130 by a pin 129. The shaft 130 is ournaled in a bearing 131 and is provided with a flange 132 adjacent its upper end which is connected by a pin 133 to a feed roll 134 having feeding grooves 135. A nut 136 on the end of shaft 130 secures the feed roll 134 to the shaft. The bearing 131 is carried in a sleeve 137 and a screw 138 provided with a handle 139 is utilized for adjustably positioning the sleeve, bearing, shaft and feed roll 134 inwardly. By adjusting the screw 138 the amount of gripping action by the feed rolls 104 and 134 on the wire fed through the feeding grooves 105 and may be adjusted. The shaft 120 is journaled in the end piece-71 of the lower frame and also in a bracket 140.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the shaft 97 is rotating, but since the dogs 109 are downwardly located, the remaining parts are stationary. When the shaft 120 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in Fig. 6, the levers 118 operate through the pins 116 and rim 115 to raise the dogs 109 whereupon they are engaged by the ears 126 to impart rotation to the sleeves 112 and 107. The sleeve 112 drives the gears 123 and 128, the shaft 130 and the feed roll 134. The sleeve 107 through the pins 106 and sleeve 102 drives the feed roll 104. Thus, the dogs 109 and ears 126 form a clutch for driving the feed rolls 104 and 134 when they are engaged by manpulation of the shaft 120. When the shaft 120 is rotated in a clockwise direction the clutch is disengaged and rotation of the feed rolls 104 and 134 is interrupted.

The housing 98 carries a bracket 142 provided with guide rollers 143 for guiding a wire into the feed grooves between the feed rolls 104 and 134 so that when the feed rolls are rotated the wire is advanced.

The wire 144 is advanced through a helix forming die 146 which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 8 to 11. A supporting block 147 is carried by the housing 98 and supports a pad 148 provided with a downward extension 149 receiving a screw 150 and locked in place by a lock nut 151. By manipulating the screw 150 the pad 148 may be adjustably positioned longitudinally of the lower frame 12. The pad 148 is provided with a tongue 152 for receiving a casing 153 which is clamped in place on the tongue. The casing 153 is provided with a longitudinal bore 154 which receives at one end a plug 155 provided with a pair of diametrically opposed slots 156. A spindle 157 is contained within the bore 154 and is provided with a wire receiving groove 158 terminating in a spiral groove 159. The spindle 157 is held in place in the casing 153 by a screw 157a with the groove 153 in alignment with one of the grooves 156 of the plug 155. A rotatable sleeve 160 is carried by the end of the spindle 157 containing the helical groove 159. The pad 148 is provided with an upper extension 161 which receives a flange 162 of a sleeve 163. The flange 162 carries a transverse pin 164 and the sleeve 153 is provided with a handle 165 held in place by a screw 166. A set screw 167 maintains the sleeve 163 in proper rotated position.

The wire 144 is fed from the feed rolls 104 and 134 through the grooves 156 and 158 and the spiral groove 159, and the wire is thus forced through the forming die and formed into helical form. In order to reduce friction, the sleeve 160 which confines the wire in the helical groove 159 rotates as the wire is advanced. As the wire helix is extruded from the spindle 157 it passes the transverse pin 164 and progresses out through the sleeve 163. By manipulating the handle 165 to rotate the sleeve 163 and hence the transverse pin 164, the pin may be caused to engage the wire helix being formed for the purpose of accurately controlling the pitch of the wire helix. Thus, if the transverse pin 164 is totated in one direction the pitch may be made steeper and if it is rotated in the opposite direction the pitch may be made less steep. The set screw 167 is utilized for clamping the sleeve 163 in the desired position for obtaining the desired pitch on the wire helix.

Referring to Fig. 3, the end piece 71 is provided with a bracket 168 carrying a sleeve 169 in alignment with the sleeve 163 of the forming die. The sleeve 169 is a harden sleeve and operates in conjunction with a knife to be explained hereinafter for forming a cutter for severing the wire helix.

The mechanism 17 associated with the upper frame 15 for forming and advancing the wire helix along the upper frame is the same as the mechanism 16, and therefore, a further disclosure thereof is not necessary. In this respect, however, it is pointed out that the connection between the shaft 97 and the clutch in the mechanism 17 is a slidable spline connection instead of the pin connection in order to permit movement of the mechanism 17 upwardly and downwardly with respect to the shaft 97. The shaft for controlling the clutch of the mechanism 17 corresponding to the shaft 120 of the mechanism 16 has been designated in the drawings as 120.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3 the shaft 120 rotatably carries a lever 171 provided with a handle at one end and an extension 172 at the other end. The extension 172 is located between a pair of adjustable stops 173 carried by a lever secured to the shaft 120 so that the amount of movement of the handle required to rotate the shaft 120 may be adjusted. A spring 174 urges the shaft 120 in a clockwise direction as illustrated in Fig. 2. The lever 171 is connected by a link 175 to the armature 176 of the solenoid 21 so that when the solenoid is energized the lever 171 and shaft 120 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in Fig. 2. The shaft 120 on the upper frame is provided with the same lever and solenoid construction and like reference characters primed have been utilized for like parts.

The clamping jaw assemblies 14 of the lower frame 12 are illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 13 to 20. Figs. 3, 15, 16 and 17 illustrate clamping jaw assemblies for clamping offset coil springs while Figs. l3, 14, 18, 19 and 20 illustrate clamping jaw assemblies for clamping round coil springs. Both types of clamping jaw assemblies are essentially the same. The clamping jaw assemblies include a support 180 having anextension 181 provided with a bore 182 for receiving the stationary shaft 72.

The extension 181 is provided with a tapped hole 183 whereby the support may be clamped to the stationary shaft 72 in any desired position therealong. In this way the clamping jaw assemblies may be longitudinally adjustably positioned along the stationary shaft 72. The support 180 is also provided with a pair of extensions 184 having bores for receiving the rotatable shaft 73. Between the extensions 184 there is provided an operating arm 185 which is keyed to the rotatable shaft 73. The rotatable shaft 73, therefore, also supports the support 180 and provides means for operating the arm 185 upon rotation thereof. A stationary clamping jaw 186 is secured to the support 180 by a screw 187. A slidable clamping jaw 188, slides on the support 180 and is provided with a screw 189 locked into position by a lock nut 190. The screw 189 extends through a hole in a partition 191 carried by the support 180 and at its outer end is provided with a head 193. A spring 192 extending between the parts 191 and the head 193 urges the clamping jaw 188 away from clamping jaw 186. When the shaft 73 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 17, the spring 192 is overcome and the movable clamping jaw 188 is moved into engagement with the stationary clamping jaw 186. When the rotation effect on the shaft 73 is released the spring 192 moves the movable jaw 188 away from the stationary jaw 186 and rotates the shaft 73 in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 17. The screw 189 and the lock nut provide means for adjusting the position of the movable jaw 188 with respect to the shaft 73. Alignment between the clamping jaws 186 is assured the guide pins 195 extending therebetween.

The clamping jaws 186 and 188 for clamping round coil springs is illustrated in Figs. 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20. The stationary clamping jaw 186 includes a semi-cylindrical bore 196 and the movable jaw 188 is provided with a corresponding semi-cylindrical bore 197. The stationary jaw 186 is provided with an extension 198 having a semi-cylindrical bore 199 and likewise the movable jaw 188 is provided with an extension 200 having a corresponding semi-cylindrical bore. When the clamping jaws are closed, there is therefore provided in the jaws a cylindrical bore and in the extensions a similar cylindrical bore. The cylindrical bore in the extensions is for the purpose of guiding the wire helix into the cylindrical bore in the jaws.

The stationary jaw 186 is provided with diagonal inserts 201 and the movable jaw is provided with diagonal inserts 202, the inserts 201 being provided with notches 203 and the inserts 202 being provided with notches 204. The notches 203 and 204 are angular notches and it is noted that the predominant portion of the notches 203 is offset on one side of the center line of the bore while notches 204 are predominantly offset on the other side of the center line through the bore. The purpose of the offset notches is to clamp the end turns of the coil springs in overlapping relation as is illustrated in Fig. 18. The clamping jaw 186 is provided with a guide surface 205 which is located substantially in alignment with the center line of the bore and the movable clamping jaw 188 is provided with a guide surface 206 which is offset with respect to the ce ter line of the bore. These guide surfa es 205 and 206 are utilized for receiving the round coil springs when the jaw assemb ies are opened or partially opened for guiding the coil springs in proper alignment between the jaws so that when the jaws are closed the c il spring 215 is guided b the ide surface 205 will lie above the coil spring 216 guided by the guide surface 206 when the clamping jaws are closed. In this way movement of the coil spring 215 into the notch 204 and movement of the coil spring 216 into the notch 203 are effected. The coil springs 215 are those which are last inserted in the machine and the coil springs 216 are those which were previously inserted in the machine. The wire helix 219 advanced through the bore in the clamping jaws thereupon laces together the coil springs 215 and 216. The diagonal inserts 201 and 202 with their notches 203 and 204 are utilized solely for the purpose of clamping the coil springs 215 and 216 and are so arranged that as the helix is advanced through the bore for lacing together the coil sprin s they do not contact the wire helix. The notches 203 and 204 in conjunction with the guide surfaces 205 and 206 temporarily deform or distort the coil springs when the clamping jaws are closed so that the maximum numher of turns of the wire helix encompasses the coil springs. When the clamping jaws are opened the coil springs attempt to assume their original contours thereby providing a tight joint therebetween and between them and the wire helix. in this way squeaking and pinging of the spring unit is substantially prevented.

The clamping jaws 186 and 188 for clamping offset coil springs are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 15 to 17. These clamping jaws are essentially the same as those utilized for clamping round springs and like reference characters have been utilized for like parts. The main difference between the two is the type of notches included in the inserts and the type of guide surfaces for the coil springs. For clamping offset coil springs the inserts 201 and 202 are provided with rectangular notches 208 and 209 as are clearly shown in Fig. 16. The stationary jaw 186 includes a guide surface 210 in substantial alinement with the center of the bore and the movable jaw 188 includes a guide surface 211 which is offset with respect to the center line of the bore. The guide surface 210 operates to guide the offset of coil spring 215 above the offset of coil spring 216 so that when the clamping jaws are closed the coil springs 215 and 216 are properly located in the notches 208 and 209. When the offset coil springs are thus clamped in position in the notches 208 and 209 the advancing wire helix laces the two coil springs together in proper relation.

The clamping jaw assemblies 15 for the upper frame are the same as the clamping jaw assemblies 14 of the lower frame and like reference characters primed for like parts have been utilized. The clamping jaw assemblies 15 are adjustably positioned on the shafts 76 and 77 of the upper frame and rotation of the shaft77 causes opening and closing of the clamping jaws.

The supports 180 of the clamping jaw assemblies carry guide plates 217 which are clamped thereto by the continuous angle piece 218. The guide blades 217 are provided with suitable recesses for guiding the outer edges of the coil springs 215 so that the coil springs are retained in proper position on the support 180 before and during the clamping operation. These guides 217 greatly assist in the proper insertion and location of the coil springs 215 into the machine. The wire helix which laces the coil springs together is designated at 219.

The mechanism for rotating the shafts 73 and 77 of the lower and upper frames and the clutches in the wire helix forming and advancing mechanisms 16 and 17 is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 3 and 5. The shaft 73 of the lower frame has a collar 225 secured to it by a pin 226. The collar 225 carries a member or arm 227 and is provided with a latching shoulder 228. In a like manner the shaft 77 of the upper frame has secured to it a collar 229 by a pin 230, the collar 229 being provided a member or an arm 231 and a latching shoulder A lever 233 is pivoted to the supporting standard at one end at 234 and is provided at the other end with a pair of adjustable pins 235 and 236. The pin 235 is adapted to engage the arm 227 and the pin 236 is adapted to enga e the arm 231 when the upper frame is lowered. A link 238 is pivoted at 237 to the lever 233 and is pivoted at 239 to a crank lever 240 pivoted at 241. A link 2 43 is pivotally connected at 242 to the bell crank lever 240 and as shown in Fig. 1 at 244 to a lever 245 pivoted at 246 to the supporting standard. The lever 245 carries the manual foot pedal 20 and all of the parts are biased in one direction by a spring 247. Thus, when the foot pedal 20 is depressed the linkage operates the lever 233 to move the arms 227 and 231 and their corresponding shafts to the positions shown in broken lines in Fig. and when the foot pedal is released the parts assume the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 5.

Referring again to Fig. l the lever 245 of the foot pedal 20 is provided with a detent 250 for receiving a roller 251 carried by a bell crank lever 252 pivoted to the supporting standard at 253. A link 255 is connected to the lever 252 at 254 and to a bell crank lever 257 at 256. The bell crank lever 257 is pivoted to the su porting standard at 258 and is pivotally connected at 259 to the end of a link 260. The other end is pivoted at 261 to a foot pedal 262 pivoted at 263 to the supporting standard 11. A spring 264 urges the foot pedal 262 upwardly. When the foot pedal 262 is depressed the roller 251 moves the foot pedal 20 downwardly to an intermediate position and enters the detent 250 for maintaining the foot 8 pedal 20 in the intermediate position. In this way the lever 233 of Fig. 5 is partially moved for the purpose of partially closing the clamping jaw assemblies for inserting coil springs therein. After the coil springs are inserted in the clamping jaw assemblies the foot pedal 20 is then completely depressed for completely closing the jaw assemblies. When the foot pedal 20 is thus completely depressed the detent 250 is moved away from the roller 251 whereupon the spring 264 retracts the roller 2 51 alnd the foot pedal 262 to the position illustrated in Referring again to Figs. 3 and 5, the shaft which operates the clutch of the helix forming and advancing mechanism 16 carries a latch 270 provided with a latching shoulder 271 which rests against the collar 225 by reason of the action of the spring 174 operating on the lever 171 also secured to the shaft 120. In a like manner the shaft 120 which operates the clutch of the wire helix forming and advancing mechanism 17 carries a latch 272 provided with a latching shoulder 273 which bears against the collar 229.

After the upper frame is lowered and when the foot pedal 20 has been completely depressed, the collars 225 and 229 are moved to the positions shown in the broken lines in Fig. 5 whereupon the latches 270 and 272 move inwardly so that the latching shoulders 271 and 273 thereof engage the latching shoulders 228 and 232 of the collars 225 and 229. This latches the clamping jaw assemblies in closed position so that when the foot pedal 20 is released the clamping jaw assemblies are still maintained closed. This operation of the latches 270 and 272, also, causes rotation of the shafts 120 and 120 to engage the clutches of the wire helix forming and advancing mechanisms 16 and 17 to cause them to form and advance the wire helices 219 for lacing purposes. When the wire helix of the lower frame 12 has completed its lacing operation, the switch 22 is operated to energize the solenoid 21 whereupon the lever 171 is pulled downwardly against the action of the spring 174 to rotate the shaft 120 in counterclockwise direction as illustrated in Fig. 5. This rotation as pointed out above disengages the clutch of the wire helix forming and advancing mechanism 16 to stop operation thereof and also releases the latch 270 whereupon the collar 225 and shaft 73 are rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 for opening the jaw assemblies 14 of the lower frame. Likewise when the wire helix of the upper frame has completed its lacing operation the switch 24 energizes the solenoid 23 for raising the lever 171 to rotate the shaft 120' in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. This clockwise rotation of the shaft 120 as pointed out above disengages the clutch of the wire helix forming and advancing mechanism 17 to stop operation thereof and also releases the latch 272 whereupon the collar 229 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 to open the clamping jaw assemblies 15 of the upper frame.

The upper frame may be then raised by manipulation of the clutch 19 to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 5 so that the laced coil springs may be removed from the clamping jaw assemblies 14 and 15. When the upper frame is thus lifted the wire helices are cut by cutters, the construction of which is shown in more detail in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 21 and 22. The cutter for the helix of the lower frame includes a knife 275 cooperating with the sleeve 169 which extrudes the wire helix. The knife 275 is carried on a plunger 276 guided by the end piece 71 and the plunger carries a roller 277 which is engaged by the cam surface 44 on the collar 43 mounted on the shaft 40. Thus, when the shaft 40 is rotated to raise the upper frame 13, the cam surface 44 engages the roller 277 to move the knife 275 across the end of the sleeve 169 thereby cutting the wire helix of the lower frame.

The cutter of the upper frame includes a knife 278 adapted to sweep across the face of the sleeve 169 which extrudes the wire helix along the upper frame. The knife 278 is carried by a plunger 279 slidably mounted in the end piece 75.- A lever 230 is pivoted at 281 to a bracket 282 which is secured to the end piece 75 of the upper frame and the lever 280 is adapted to abut against the end of the plunger 279. Intermediate the ends of the lever 280 there is provided an eye 283 for receiving a rod 284 provided with a nut 285. The rod 284 is provided with a loop. 286 which is secured to a pin 287 carried by the supporting standard 11. Thus, when the upper frame is raisedthe eye 283 engages the nut 285 to force the lever 280 downwardly to cause the knife 278 to sweep across the end of the sleeve 169' and cut the wire helix of the upper frame. Accordingly, when the upper frame 13 is lifted the cutters simultaneously operate to cut the wire helices of the lower and upper frames.

The switch 22 for energizing the solenoid 21 is illustrated in more detail in Fig. 23. This switch 22 is carried by a bracket 290 having a flared flange 291, a switch operating lever 292 having a flared end which is pivoted at 293 for operating the plunger 294 of the switch 22. When the plunger 294 is depressed, the switch is closed. The bracket 290 is carried by a mounting bracket 295 provided with a hole 296 by which the assembly may be secured to the stationary shaft 72 of the lower frame. The switch 22 is normally maintained open and the flared ends of the bracket and switch operating lever are located in the path of the advancing wire helix 219. When the wire helix 219 completes its travel it enters the flared opening and depresses the switch operating lever 292 to depress the plunger 294, closes the switch 22 for energizing the solenoid 21 thereby stopping the advance of the wire helix. By reason of the flared construction of the bracket and the switch operating lever, the extent of advance of the wire helix 219 may be accurately predetermined and the wire helix may be readily removed laterally from between the bracket and switch operating lever.

Fig. 7 illustrates a spring unit composed of rows of round coil springs 215 and 216 laced together by wire helices 219, this assembly being preformed by the machine of this invention. According to this invention, the spacing between the clamping jaw assemblies is so arranged with respect to the pitch of the wire helices that the wire helix first encircles alternate coil springs in adjacent rows. As seen in Fig. 7 the lower wire helix 219 is advanced from the right between two rows of coil springs, one row including coil springs 215 and the other row including coil springs 216. The wire helix 219 first encircles the coil spring 215A, then 2163, then 215D and then 216D. By lacing together the coil springs in this alternate fashion the stresses within the completed spring unit are equalized so that the spring unit retains its rectangular shape. If the wire helix 219 first encircled each spring 215A, 215B, 215C and 215D in sequence the stresses in the completed spring unit would be uneven so that the completed spring unit would not retain a rectangular shape, but would cant into a biased or irregular shape. The improved spring unit which retains its rectangular shape and which is disclosed in Fig. 7 also forms one of the features of this invention.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a spring unit lacing machine for lacing together coil springs into a spring unit comprising an elongated lower frame, an elongated upper frame and a plurality of clamping jaw assemblies for clamping together the end turns of two rows of coil springs to be laced together by a pair of advancing wire helices, a jaw operating shaft for opening and closing the clamping jaw assemblies, and a wire helix forming and advancing mechanism at one end of each frame for advancing a wire helix along each frame, wherein each helix forming and advancing mechanism includes a forming die, rolls for advancing wire through the forming die, an adjusting device for adjustably positioning the forming die toward or away from the clamping jaw assemblies and a transverse pin in the path of the wire helix and adjustable about the axis of the wire helix for regulating the pitch of the wire helix, wherein each clamping jaw assembly includes a pair of jaws and means for relatively moving the jaws upon rotation of the jaw operating shaft, and mechanism for rotating the jaw operating shafts of the lower and upper frames to one position to open the jaws for removing the laced coil springs and to another position to close the jaws for clamping the coil springs for lacing the same.

2. In a spring unit lacing machine for lacing together coil springs into a spring unit comprising an elongated 10 lower frame, an elongated upper frame and a plurality of clamping jaw assemblies for clamping together the end turns of two rows of coil springs to be laced together by a pair of advancing wire helices, a jaw operating shaft for opening and closing the clamping jaw assemblies, and a wire helix forming and advancing mechanism at one end of each frame for advancing'a wire helix along each frame, wherein each wire helix forming and advancing mechanism includes a forming die, rolls for advancing wire through the forming die, an adjusting device for adjustably positioning the forming die toward or away from the clamping jaw assemblies and a transverse pin in the path of the wire helix and adjustable about the axis of the wire helix for regulating the pitch of the wire helix, mechanism to lower the upper frame for inserting under compression into the jaw assemblies coil springs to be laced and to raise the upper frame for removing the laced coil springs from the jaw assemblies, wherein each clamping jaw assembly includes a pair of jaws and means for relatively moving the jaws upon rotation of the jaw operating shaft, mechanism for rotating the jaw operating shafts of the lower and upper frames to one position to open the jaws for removing the laced coil springs and to another position to close the jaws for clamping the coil springs for lacing the same, cutters in the lower and upper frames for cutting the wire helices, and means operative upon raising of the upper frame for operating the cutters.

3. In a spring unit lacing machine for lacing together coil springs into a spring unit comprising an elongated lower frame and an elongated upper frame, each frame including mechanism at one end thereof for forming and advancing a wire helix along the frame, and a plurality of clamping jaw assemblies for clamping together the end turns of the two rows of coil springs to be laced together by the advancing wire helix, the improvement consisting of a jaw operating shaft for opening and closing the clamping jaw assemblies, each clamping jaw assembly including a pair of jaws and means for relatively moving the jaws upon rotation of the jaw operating shaft, means for biasing the jaw operating shafts to jaw opening position, an arm on each jaw operating shaft, manually controlled means including a normally retracted lever to be advanced for engaging the arms for simultaneously rotating the jaw operating shafts to jaw closing position, a latch for each jaw operating shaft for retaining the jaw operating shafts in jaw closing position, and means including an adjustable connection for releasing the latches for moving the jaw operating shafts to jaw opening position.

4. In a spring unit lacing machine for lacing together coil springs into a spring unit comprising an elongated lower frame and an elongated upper frame, each frame including mechanism at one end thereof for forming and advancing a wire helix along the frame, and a plurality of clamping jaw assemblies for clamping together the end turns of the two rows of coil springs to be laced together by the advancing wire helix, the improvement consisting of a jaw operating shaft for opening and closing the clamping jaw assemblies, each clamping jaw assembly including a pair of jaws and means for relatively moving the jaws upon rotation of the jaw operating shaft, means for biasing the jaw operating shafts to jaw opening position, an arm on each jaw operating shaft, manual means including a normally retracted lever to be manually advanced for engaging the arms for simultaneously rotating the jaw operating shafts to an intermediate position for partially closing the jaws and to jaw closing position, a detent mechanism for the manual means to maintain the lever in position to cause the jaw operating shafts to remain in the intermediate position until the lever is further advanced, a latch for each jaw operating shaft for retaining the jaw operating shafts in jaw closing position, and means for releasing the latches for moving the jaw operating shafts to jaw opening position.

5. In a spring unit lacing machine for lacing together coil springs into a spring unit comprising an elongated lower frame and an elongated upper frame, each frame including mechanism at one end thereof for forming and advancing a wire helix along the frame, and a plurality of clamping jaw assemblies for clamping together the end turns of two rows of coil springs to be laced together. by the advancing wire helix, the improvement consisting of a aw operating shaft for opening and closing the clamping jaw assemblies, each wire helix forming and advancing mechanism including a forming die, rolls for advancing wire through the forming die, and a clutch for operating the advancing rolls, each clamping jaw assembly including a pair of jaws and means for relatively moving the jaws upon rotation of the jaw operating shaft, means for biasing the jaw operating shafts to jaw opening position, an arm on each jaw operating shaft, manually controlled means including a normally retracted lever to be advanced for engaging the arms for simultaneously rotating the jaw operating shafts to jaw closing position, a latch for each jaw operating shaft for retaining the jaw operating shafts in jaw closing position and for engaging the clutch of each wire helix forming and advancing mechanism to form and feed the wire helix, and means including an adjustable connection for releasing the latches for moving the jaw operating shafts to jaw opening position and for disengaging the clutches to interrupt the forming and feed ing of the wire helices.

6. In a spring unit lacing machine for lacing together coil springs into a spring unit comprising an elongated lower frame and an elongated upper frame, a plurality of clamping jaw assemblies for clamping together the end turns of two rows of coil springs to be laced together by a pair of advancing wire helices and a source of power, the improvement consisting of a Wire helix forming and advancing mechanism at one end of each frame for advancing a wire helix along each frame and each including a forming die, rolls for advancing wire through the forming die and a clutch for connecting the rolls to the source of power, means for biasing the clamping jaw assemblies to open position, manually controlled means having a one-way connection with the clamping jaw assemblies for moving the clamping jaw assemblies of both frames simultaneously to closed position against the action of the biasing means, a latch on each frame for retaining the clamping jaw assemblies in closed position and for simultaneously engaging the clutches of both wire helix forming and advancing mechanisms, and control means including an adjustable connection on each frame operated when the wire helix in that frame has been completely advanced by the wire helix forming and advancing mechanism of that frame for releasing, the latch of that 1?. frame to open the clamping jaw assemblies of that frame and to disengage the clutch of the wire helix forming and advancing mechanism of that frame.

7. In a spring unit lacing machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for releasing the latches for moving the jaw operating shafts to jaw opening position includes, a first solenoid, an adjustable connection operated by the first solenoid for releasing the latch of the lower frame, a switch operated by the wire helix when it has been completely advanced by the helix forming and advancing mechanism of the lower frame for operating the first solenoid for releasing said latch and hence moving the associated jaw operating shaft to jaw opening position, a second solenoid, an adjustable connection operated by the second solenoid for releasing the latch of the upper frame, a switch operated by the wire helix when it has been completely advanced by the helix forming and advancing mechanism of the upper frame for operating the second solenoid for releasing said latch and hence moving the associated jaw operating shaft to jaw opening position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,211,267 Young Jan. 2, 1917 1,864,216 Poyner June 21, 1932 1,881,672 Kirchner Oct. 11, 1932 1,905,459 Gail Apr. 25, 1933 2,026,276 Erickson Dec. 31, 1935 2,176,262 Kirchner Oct. 17, 1939 2,262,994 Dickey Nov. 18, 1941 2,275,209 Turgeon Mar. 3, 1942 2,282,664 Marcus May 12, 1942 2,286,326 Zimmerman June 16, 1942 2,294,707 Zimmerman Sept. 1, 1942 2,296,878 Saval Sept. 29, 1942 2,351,659 Bronstien June 20, 1944 2,388,106 Woller Oct. 30, 1945 2,414,372 Frankel Jan. 14, 1947 2,454,965 Elder Nov. 30, 1948 2,470,812 Gauci May 24, 1949 

